Gian van Veen secured a place in the World Matchplay semi‑finals with a dramatic 16‑13 triumph over James Wade in Blackpool, earning a coveted clash with Gerwyn Price. The quarter‑final began slowly, with both competitors far from their best form in the opening segment. Wade, trailing 11‑7, ignited a resurgence by stringing together four successive legs to level the match, injecting fresh energy into the contest.
As the encounter progressed, the quality of play improved markedly. Both men began to hit high‑scoring finishes, trading checkouts that exceeded 100 points. Van Veen, whose overall average for the match settled at a modest 93, managed to silence the crowd’s disapproval by clinching the final two legs, thereby booking his first ever appearance in the last four of this prestigious tournament.
Looking ahead, the world number three will need to elevate his game to challenge Price, who posted a formidable 102.78 average in his own quarter‑final win over Ross Smith. Price also produced ten maximum 180s in that 16‑12 victory, demonstrating both scoring power and clinical finishing. After surrendering a 12‑8 lead, Price rallied with four straight legs to secure his place in the semi‑finals – his first at the World Matchplay since 2022. The other semi‑final will feature defending champion Luke Littler taking on Dirk van Duijvenbode, who also reached the last four for the first time.
Price’s run to the semi‑final marks his fourth televised semi‑final of the season, following strong showings at the World Masters, UK Open and Premier League. In his match with Smith, Price opened with three legs on his throw, highlighted by a 117 checkout in the second leg. He then produced a three‑leg burst from the fourth leg onward, only for Smith to answer with a remarkable 12‑dart finish.
Smith fought to stay within reach, hitting a 100 checkout to avoid falling 8‑5 behind and later missing a chance to level the scores. Price, however, continued to dominate, breaking Smith’s throw and delivering a 13‑dart finish that swung momentum in his favour.
He followed this with a 121 checkout, then a 91 double‑double finish that gave him an 11‑dart break, and ultimately sealed the match with a crisp 14‑dart finish. After the win, Price told Sky Sports, "Ross played a decent game as well, so it's nice to play well when someone is playing well. It gives you a bit of confidence going into the next round.
For him to get back to 12‑12, I thought 'here we go again' but thankfully I rode off four legs on the bounce. The 91 double‑double got the blood boiling. I'm thankful I played pretty decent tonight." The Van Veen‑Wade quarter‑final was a study in contrast.
Both players hovered around a 90 average during the early mini‑sessions, with Van Veen breaking away at the third interval by hitting a spectacular 160 checkout to lead 9‑6. He missed a few darts that could have extended his lead further, but recovered by taking the next two legs to move to 11‑7.
Wade, refusing to capitulate, sparked a comeback with a 79 finish on the bullseye, then secured the following leg and followed it with a 121 bullseye finish to hold his throw for a fourth straight leg, tying the match at 12‑12. Van Veen responded with a clutch 118 checkout, taking the second of two consecutive legs.
Wade answered with a 121 finish to break back, but Van Veen then hit a 75 checkout to bring himself within a single leg of victory. He sealed the encounter with a flawless 13‑dart finish, propelling him one win away from a potential rise to world number two.
Reflecting on his performance, Van Veen admitted to Sky Sports, "It felt very poor! My scoring was so terrible. I was so lucky James wasn't scoring as well and my finishing got me through. A win is a win.
The 118 finish – I really needed it. It was a tight battle but I'm glad I got the job done. Hopefully tomorrow I will be a lot better." The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay continues at the historic Winter Gardens, with the semi‑finals scheduled as best‑of‑33 legs and the final set for a best‑of‑35 showdown on Sunday.
Defending champion Luke Littler will aim to retain his title against Dirk van Duijvenbode, while Gerwyn Price prepares to meet Gian van Veen in the first semi‑final. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports, with coverage beginning at 7:30 pm on Sky Sports Action and around 9 pm on Sky Sports Main Event, and streaming options available through NOW. The tournament promises high‑stakes drama, elite scoring, and the chance for a new champion to emerge from the iconic Blackpool venue.